Janet Evanovich owns the characters; I just use them in my dream world.

Life for One

Stephanie and I stepped on the elevator as her cell phone started to ring. She looked at the number on the display and clicked it back in the holder. She looked over at me and gave me an eye roll. I cocked an eyebrow. It was amazing how we could carry on a conversation without dialog.

"Angie Morelli again."

"Wanting to see Luke?" I asked.

"Actually if I had been more open to her in the last couple of days I might not be suffering from her wrath so much."

"Stephanie you are grieving and trying to avoid a stalker you haven't exactly been sitting around twiddling your thumbs."

"She's threatening a custody battle. She wants visitation rights, or full custody of Luke."

"She's as crazy as Bella." I said.

"I agree, but she has a lot of pull in this town, and she could make my life miserable."

"When we catch Brewster you'll have plenty of time afterwards to settle things with her."

The doors opened and we stepped off on five. She smiled at me. "I love how you always say when we catch the bad guy instead of if we catch him."

I slipped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to my side. "Don't we always catch them?"

She looked up at me. "Always." She reached up and pulled on the bandage wrapped around my head.

"What was that for?"

"It was cocked to the side; you were starting to look a little French."

"French?"

"You know how French guys wear their hats tilted to one side?"

"Babe it's a bandage not a hat."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever all I know is I hate it, it's not normal."

"You don't hate it half as bad as I do; it's a pain in the ass."

"So take it off."

"Hell no." I said.

"Why not?"

"I look like I have a gutter as a part down the center of my head. "

She grinned and reached up to jerk it off my head. I side stepped her and grabbed her wrist. "Oh no you don't." I said.

She laughed. "I do believe the great Manoso is a little vain."

"Bull shit."

"Oh but you are."

"You want me to take it off I will. " I reached up and pulled the bandage off my head. She stopped and looked at me right as we reached the control room. Her face was blank as she stared at the top of my head. I heard a snicker coming from the control room and I slid a death look through the window at Santos. I looked back at Stephanie.

"You're right; you need to put it back on." She said.

"See I told you."

"Did the doctor say you would be normal again, that your hair would grow back over the scar and everything?"

I slipped the bandage back on. "No he said I would always have a bare spot down the middle of my head that would never grow hair."

I saw her swallow hard and a total look of disappointment cross her face, but she quickly recovered.

"Really?" She said.

"Yes, why are you ashamed to be seen with me?" I asked.

"No never! How dare you think I'm that shallow!"

I heard an all out laugh come from the control room. I glared at Santos and he sobered. I looked back at Steph.

"The doctor said my hair would grow back."

She pushed at my chest. "You lying fucker."

I grinned. "I had you though."

"I was ready to speed dial The Hair Club for Men." She said.

"Wasted call I would have nothing to so with that shit." I said.

"I don't want to sound mean but it totally messes with your mojo."

I laughed. "I assure you my mojo is fully intact." I said.

I heard Santos slam the door to the control room, I glanced over and he was laughing so hard tears were running down his face.

She crossed her arms on her chest. "I'm not talking about performance I'm talking about your over all sexiness."

I raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying that if it grows back I still got it, but if not I'm in trouble?"

She grinned. "I'm saying if it doesn't grow back you could always shave your head, but then I don't know how you would explain that indention down the middle of your scalp." She got an excited look on her face and I thought she might start jumping up and down. "I know! I know! You could always say that you were in an accident and you had a head injury and they put a plate in your head but it shifted. "

"Babe it's really great to see you smile, but you're having way too much fun at my expense, especially since I got the gutter in the middle of my head from trying to protect you."

Her smile faded. "I'm sorry you're right."

I kept a stoic look on my face. "I could have died you know."

She ran her hand through her hair and looked at the floor. "Shit Ranger I feel like crap."

"I don't because I psyched you out and you fell for it." She slowly looked up at me.

"Asshole."

"Bitch." I grinned.

"Even" She grinned.

"Even." I said.

She laced her fingers through mine. "Come on divot head we have work to do."

"Babe."

"Sorry I tried to stop, but that one was right on the tip of my tongue." She said.

We walked into the conference room and took seats at the table. Ram was seated punching on the keyboard on the laptop in front of him. He looked up at us.

"I found an address to go with registration to the Suburban. It's bogus unless he lives in a Seven Eleven."

"I didn't expect to find a legitimate address. I want to see the footage of the kidnapping." I said.

He pushed a few buttons and turned the laptop around so we could see the screen. Manny was on the phone obviously trying to alert me of the invasion when they darted him. Mia was caught by surprise in the garage. They tripped the door and were inside in seconds. She fought like a tiger but they stunned her.

"Have you found out anything on Jax since he's been under surveillance?"

"I tapped his RangeMan phone. He's made legit calls except for one call he made to a detective Stapleton at the TPD."

"Isn't that the detective that took over for Morelli?" I glanced at Stephanie.

"Yes he was one of Joe's partners." She said.

"What was their conversation?" I asked.

"Stapleton told him nothing had changed, to hang tight." Ram said.

"He's not working for Brewster; he's undercover for the TPD." I said.

"It looks that way man."

"They won't let it go; they still think you had something to do with Joe's death." Stephanie said.

"He was in the debriefing after I questioned Rodriquez. He knows Brewster wasn't responsible for the explosion that killed Morelli. So why haven't they brought me in for more questioning?"

"They are waiting for you to hang yourself." Ram said.

"Their idiots." Stephanie said.

"So we need a plan. Tell me what you've been working on." I said.

"I'm trying to break through Brewster's firewall. The hacks have us linked to his network; I just have to time it right. When they sign on to breach our server I can get inside their network and then we'll be home free."

"We need a break; I need a location to start with. I don't think he would take them all the back to Nova Scotia. He has to be in Trenton."

"It all depends how the sick bastard intends to end this stupid game he's playing." Stephanie said.

"Maybe he does want to lure us to the island. It would be impossible to breach the compound without his knowledge. And it would guarantee that he has the upper hand."

"If he stays in Trenton it's our turf, he won't have the advantage." I said.

I heard my cell chirp and I pulled it off my belt.

"Yo."

"Manoso the final phase of the game has started. In a few moments, the game board will appear on every computer at RangeMan. You will have two hours to find Mia and Manny. You have three locations to find in order to locate them. Directions will be at each location. You will find obstacles along the way. However, each landmark must be located before you can move on to the next part of the game. Do not involve the police or I forfeit the game and they both die. I'll be waiting for you and Stephanie at the end." He disconnected.

I looked down at the computer screen and a grid appeared on the screen. A red X marked a coordinate on the board.

"What the hell?" Ram said.

"It's a game. I have two hours to find three locations before Mia and Manny die. I need the address to these coordinates." Ram started punching keys on the computer but nothing happened. "Fuck, he's locked us out."

I walked over to the map of Trenton that was always displayed on the wall. "Great it looks like the first location is in the middle of that abandoned industrial park on the outskirts of Trenton."

"So what are we looking for when we get there?" Stephanie asked.

"Directions to our next location, and traps with every step we take."

"Fuck, what's the plan?" Ram asked.

"I want every available employee that's not on duty to come in. I want Santos. Brown, Cal, Hal, Vince and Jax with me. Have the men who come in take over the control room and surveillance."

"You sure you want Jax in on this?" Ram asked.

"Couldn't hurt to have a cop on board."

Ram smiled. "I like your way of thinking."

We fought our way through the dense underbrush. I glanced at my watch, we had wasted thirty minutes already, and still hadn't found a clue. I looked down at Stephanie; she wiped the back of her hand across her brow and looked up at me. What now Indiana Jones?"

"We're right on the coordinates there has to be a clue around here somewhere. I heard a string of curse words and then laughter coming from the left of us. We made our way in the direction of voices and found Bobby hanging upside down from a tree with a rope tied around his ankle. Ram had a hold on him and Lester was trying to cut him down. "Hold still you fucker." Lester said.

My cell vibrated and I flipped it open.

"Yes."

"Manoso you are disappointing me. I thought you were more of a contender. I'm stepping up the game already. I thought this phase could wait but you've proven to be an unworthy adversary. Watch your back."

"Keep your eyes open, I think hell is about to break lose." I no longer issued the warning until gunfire erupted from all around us. I grabbed Stephanie and shoved her to the ground. I jerked the gun from my waistband and started firing. Gunfire was coming from every direction. I pulled my night vision goggles on and signaled Stephanie to do the same. We crawled over to a tree a few yards away to take cover. I could see at least seven men armed and running toward us through the underbrush. I raised my gun and aimed. I picked off two and watched another one fall as I heard Stephanie's gunfire. They dispersed in the opposite direction, I hit two of them in the back, and they dropped like lead. I could hear gunfire to the left of us and then silence. I heard a familiar birdcall and I knew that Santos and Brown had things on their end under control. I grabbed Stephanie's hand and raced through the underbrush trying to catch the other two men. I took about 10 steps when I felt her hand jerk out of mine and she screamed. I turned and saw a man holding her against his chest with a gun pointed under her chin.

"Let her go, he wants her alive."

"New rules, he wants you either dead or alive. Drop the gun," He said.

I felt a bead of sweat roll down my spine as I slowly lowered my gun to my side. I heard some movement in the brush to our right and the man's eyes darted in that direction. I started to raise my gun when I saw him grimace and slowly let go of Stephanie. He slid to the ground and Stephanie looked down at him in shock. Protruding from his back was a knife buried to the handle. Lester stepped out of the brush. "Damn I still got it."

"You okay Steph?" I asked. She nodded as Lester wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her tight against him.

I kicked the man on the ground over on his side and noticed something in his shirt pocket. I pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it.

Below is the coordinates of your next obstacle. Live or die.

I looked up at Lester and Bobby. "There were two more men in front of us."

"Jax and Cal took them down."

"Where's Vince and Ram?"

"I don't know." Bobby said.

Let's get back to the truck. I need Ram to decipher these coordinates."

We made our way back to the truck and met Ram, Vince, Jax and Cal coming out of the brush a few feet away.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"Cal and Vince fell in an underground trap. We had to fish them out." Jax said.

I smirked in Cal and Vince's direction. I handed the coordinates to Ram. "Find these."

He opened the truck and pulled out a map. I held a flash light. It looks like the next location is about five miles from here on a bridge."

"That bridge is under construction, it's not even finished." Stephanie said.

We all looked at one another.

Fuck.

"Time is ticking ladies let's get moving." I said.

We were all standing on the portion of the bridge that was completed looking down at the water. Hanging from a girder about thirty feet below us was an envelope flapping in the wind. 100 feet below that was the river. Vince was already pulling on his repelling gear.

"The wind has picked up since we got here Vince." I said.

"I've repelled in worse conditions." He said.

"I'm sure you have but this is a straight drop."

He stopped and looked at me. "I'm your best bet, are you going to trust me or not?"

I gave him a slight nod, and turned to look at Lester. "Put on your gear and be ready at the top in case he gets in trouble." He nodded and walked over to the truck to grab his gear.

Vince anchored to a girder at the top of the bridge where we were standing and climbed over the railing. He repelled off the side and disappeared from view. I walked over to the rail and looked over the side. He was half way to his destination. I looked over at Stephanie. She had a death grip on the railing and her eyes were pinpointed on Vince. I placed my hand on the back of her neck. "He can do this, he'll be fine."

The words no sooner left my mouth than I heard the sound of an approaching helicopter.

I ran toward the truck and climbed in the bed. I opened a long suitcase and pulled out a rocket launcher. I slid the grenade in the chamber and slid out of the back of the truck. Bobby was waiting on me with a smile on his face. "It's been a while since we've needed one of those."

"A perfect situation for the perfect weapon." I said.

I heard gunfire as the helicopter hovered overhead. I yelled for everyone to take cover. I heard Stephanie scream as she hung over the rail looking at Vince below. I watched as Lester disappeared over the side of the bridge. I placed the rocket launcher on my shoulder and motioned for Bobby to get Stephanie under cover. He grabbed her and ran off the bridge and to the road approaching the bridge. I walked over to the rail and aimed at the helicopters blades. Gunfire pelted the air and ground all around me. I fired and watched as the grenade made contact with the rotors and the helicopter took a nosedive and started falling through the air. It hit the side of the ravine and burst into flames. I hit the ground as debris and fire rained down around me. I quickly jumped up and crawled to the edge of the bridge. I could see Lester pulling up on the ropes almost back to the rail. Jax and Cal were under the bridge trying to fish Vince out of the water below. I stuck out my hand and pulled Lester over the railing he jumped onto the surface of the bridge and pulled the envelope out of his shirt. He grinned. "Damn I haven't had this much fun since Columbia."

I smiled. "You're a sick fuck Santos."

"That's why you love me, and can't commit to a woman." He slapped me on the butt and walked away.

I handed the envelope to Ram and walked over to where Stephanie was standing with Bobby. She had a dazed expression on her face. "You okay?" I asked.

"You picked that helicopter out of the sky like you do it every day." She said.

"I used to do it almost everyday in another life time."

"You amaze me." She said.

I smiled. "The feeling is mutual."

Ram walked over to me and handed me a piece of paper. "The next location is an abandoned warehouse across town. We only have 40 minutes left; we need to get a move on."

I looked at Stephanie. "You ready to finish this?"

She smiled. "Locked and loaded."

Stephanie and I pulled on our night vision goggles as we stood outside the side entrance to the warehouse. "Stay close to me, and if we get separated stay put and let me find you. Got it?"

"Loud and clear." I squeezed her hand and we stepped inside of the warehouse with the rest of the men on my tail. Ram stayed in the truck to communicate with us from outside.

I heard Brewster's voice over a loud speaker as soon as we stepped inside and started down a narrow hallway.

"Lose the goons Manoso. This is between you and me. I have no one inside but Mia, Manny, and me. No tricks this time. You and Stephanie find us, and the man with the best skill wins."

I turned and motioned for the guys to wait outside. Brown and Santos stopped inside the door and looked at me in disbelief. I gave them thumbs up and Stephanie and I continued into the darkened building. I knew he had the advantage; the building was obviously wired with sound and video surveillance. He knew our every move and we knew nothing but what was five feet in front of us. I motioned to Stephanie to draw her gun and I did the same. We hugged the wall with our backs as we proceeded into the darkness. We stepped into a large room but it was impossible to tell if we were in the main area of the warehouse. I pushed Stephanie back against the wall and looked up to see what was above us. I could see a cat walk hanging from the ceiling. I had to find access to it, because right now we were sitting duck targets. I grabbed Stephanie's hand and ran toward the other side of the building. I saw a set of drop down stairs hanging from the ceiling; we were almost there when the building became flooded with light. I staggered as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. I heard Brewster's voice and I turned and looked in the direction of the sound. We were in a large open room, obviously the main part of the warehouse. Mia and Manny were tied to chairs in the middle of the floor about fifty feet away from us. Brewster was standing behind them with his arms crossed on his chest and a snide smile on his face. He looked like he was riding high on either drugs or adrenaline from the sick addiction to this fucked up situation he called a game.

"Welcome Stephanie and Carlos. This is the moment I've been waiting for."

I slowly walked over to them. I glanced at Manny and Mia and they appeared okay. I could tell Mia was trying to give me a message with her eyes and I had a feeling we were in the middle of a very large trap. It was nothing new for me; there was a time in my life I lived to make it out of situations much worse than this one.

"He pulled a gun from his waistband and leveled it at us. "Lower your weapons to the floor."

"You call this a game Brewster? I've been at a disadvantage all night. You expect me to end this with no weapon in my hand, what kind of a challenge is that? At least make it an even stand off."

"It's my game. And I make the rules, now drop your weapons and Stephanie slowly walk toward me."

I bent down and placed my gun on the concrete at my feet, and Stephanie did the same. She looked at me and I nodded. She slowly walked toward Brewster. She was two steps away from him when I heard gunfire. I dove for my weapon, but Brewster was all ready lifeless on the concrete. I jumped to my feet and swung around in the direction of the gunfire expecting to see Santos or Brown.

Instead, I heard Stephanie's broken sob as Joe Morelli stepped out of the shadows.